U.S. patent number 4,516,293 [Application Number 06/488,057] was granted by the patent office on 1985-05-14 for clamping structure.
Invention is credited to Anthony V. Beran.
United States Patent |
4,516,293 |
Beran |
May 14, 1985 |
Clamping structure
Abstract
A tube holder includes a clamp formed by a clamp base and a
wrap-around strap. The strap is fixed at one end to the base and,
after wrapping around the tube, is locked to the clamp base at a
point along its length in a double locking system.
Inventors: |
Beran; Anthony V. (Santa Ana,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
26945534 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/488,057 |
Filed: |
April 25, 1983 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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256698 |
Apr 23, 1981 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
24/16PB;
128/207.17; 128/DIG.26; 24/17AP; 24/30.5P; D8/72 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M
25/02 (20130101); A61M 2025/024 (20130101); A61M
2025/0266 (20130101); Y10T 24/153 (20150115); Y10T
24/141 (20150115); Y10T 24/1498 (20150115); Y10S
128/26 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61M
25/02 (20060101); B65D 063/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;24/16PB,16R,17AP,3.5P
;128/207.17,348.1,DIG.26 ;604/179 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Sakran; Victor N.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Frater; Grover A.
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser.
No. 06/256,698, filed Apr. 23, 1981 for TUBE HOLDER.
Claims
I claim:
1. In a locking structure for a clamp:
bolt means for locking cooperation with a surface conformation on a
keeper;
a keeper formed by two members spaced to provide an opening between
them;
a latch carried by the keeper and resiliently mounted on one of
said members for movement in said opening;
said latch being biased to a position in said opening such that
entry of the bolt means into the space between said members
requires mating of said conformation and said latch or retraction
of the latch;
said members being capable of being spread apart and in which a
projection extends into said space from one of said members
sufficiently to require spreading of said members to permit entry
of the bolt means into said space by arranging said conformation
and latch in mating position.
2. The invention defined in claim 1 in which said projection is
formed with a sloping surface which is sloped to greater extension
into said space in the direction in which the bolt means is moved
to entry into said keeper when conformation and latch are
aligned.
3. The invention defined in claim 2 in which said two members are
joined at a point along their length such that said space between
said members consitutes a slot, said latch being mounted at a point
in said slot closer than said projection to the juncture between
said members.
4. A locking structure comprising:
a bolt having an end and a side;
a keeper shaped to define a repository for the bolt having a first
normally blocked entryway to receive the bolt endwise, and a second
normally blocked entryway to receive the bolt sidewise;
a lock extending into one of said first and second entryways and a
latch extending into the other entryway; and
camming means carried by one of said keeper or said bolt for
camming open one of said entryways sufficiently to permit entry of
the bolt, and camming means carried by one of said keeper and said
bolt for camming open the other of said entryways sufficiently to
permit entry of the bolt.
5. The invention defined in claim 4 in which said keeper is formed
of a resilient material which yields in response to cam action.
6. A locking structure comprising:
a keeper which defines a repository for a bolt and a first entryway
for endwise insertion of the bolt and a second entryway for
sidewise insertion of the bolt;
a locking member and a latch associated with respective ones of
said first and said second entryways and means for withdrawing at
least one of said locking member and said latch to permit removal
of a bolt from said repository;
said keeper being U-shaped, the repository for a bolt being defined
by the space between the arms of the U-shape;
said locking member and said latch being formed on one arm of the
U-shape; and
a second locking member and a second latch, the second locking
member and the second latch being formed on the other arm of the
U-shape.
7. The invention defined in claim 6 which further comprises a
strap, the strap being formed with a plurality of latch engaging
conformations on each of its two sides.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to improvements in tube holders and ties,
and particularly to clamping structures for tube holders, and
particularly to dual-locking ties.
BACKGROUND ART
While the invention has other applications, one of the most
important is to hold endotracheal, gastrointestinal and other
tubes, and to fix their position relative to the patient in which
such tubes are inserted. Those tubes enter at the patient's nostril
or mouth and must be fixed to the patient to insure against
unwanted change in the degree of insertion. If the patient is going
to be able to move, the point of fixation must be right at the nose
or mouth. Most of the practical holders include an adhesive patch
to which a tube clamp is fixed.
A widely accepted and successful tube holder is shown in Beran U.S.
Pat. No. 4,114,626. Its clamp is a two-piece structure which is
easily applied to, and readily removed from, patient and tube. It
is intended primarily for use with infants--with small diameter
tubes and a limited number of sizes. Each holder is designed for
only one tube size.
The ideal tube holder for adult patients would be adjustable or
otherwise, arranged so that one holder would accommodate many tube
sizes. The need for positive clamping is no less, and, indeed, is
often greater in the case of adult patients because adult patients
move more and they subject the tube and holder to greater forces
than do infants.
Another requirement for the adult tube holder is that it be easy
for the medical technician and nurse to install and to remove, and
difficult for the patient to remove. While difficulty of removal by
a patient is not an often needed feature, it is important in
certain cases. Thus, the ideal tube holder is one that exhibits
that difference in case of removal.
These holders include an adhesive surface or other attachment means
including straps and hook and fabric arrangements, and are used
next to the patient's nose and mouth. Cleaning is not practical so
the holder is a throw-away product. The ideal holder is designed
for production at very low cost, and presents minimum quality,
storage, sterilization and packaging problems. The Beran holder of
Pat. No. 4,114,626 meets these tests but, at least in adult sizes,
the holder provided by this invention is best.
Many applications do not require the adhesive surface. The novel
locking arrangement of the invention provides a clamping structure
having wide utility for binding and clamping.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The invention provides a tube holder which is adjustable in that it
can be used to hold tubes that have any of a number of different
sizes. It provides a reliable, inexpensive, easily used holder, the
holding action of which is positive. To provide a device with those
characteristics is an object of the invention.
In the Beran two-piece locking system a locking cylinder is forced
over a split cylinder which surrounds the tube. The mating surfaces
of the locking cylinder and the holding cylinder are relatively
tapered. The result is that the clamping action between tube and
holder is applied over a relatively large area of the tube. The
tapered shape provides a mechanical purchase that permits gripping
of the tube with a larger force than is needed to press the locking
and holding cylinders together.
The advantage of that system of force multiplication is lost when
the two-piece design is replaced with a locking system which can be
molded as a single unitary device. The invention overcomes that
loss by a distortion of the cross-sectional shape of the tube. The
holding structure is arranged so that the tube is pressed to
slightly oval shape at the region at which it is engaged by the
holder. That is augmented, or even replaced, by projections that
extend from the holder into engagement with the exterior wall of
the tube. In preferred form those projections do not pierce the
tube wall, but merely distort its shape in small degree.
The relatively tapered surfaces of the Beran two-piece holder
engage one another over a large area such that friction alone
provides adequate locking force. The one-piece arrangement or
capability, in the invention, utilizes a different arrangement. One
part of the holder cooperates with another part to embrace the
tube, and the two parts are positively locked together. They are
locked as bolt and latch. Matching conformations, one on one of the
two parts and the other on the other part, serve one as the latch
and the other as the bolt. The lock in the invention can be closed
by either of two motions which differs in direction. The direction
of one is perpendicular to the direction of the other. The
conformation that is the latch in one locking motion is the engaged
conformation in the other locking motion. In the preferred forms of
the invention, either motion, or both, is available to close the
lock and hold the tube fast in the embrace of the two parts.
Adjustability is provided by a duplication of at least one of the
two conformations at spaced points along a surface of that one of
the two parts on which the conformation is formed. In preferred
form one of the two parts is a strap and the conformation on the
strap is reproduced at spaced points along its length. The strap
serves as the bolt in a second lock.
In the second lock the bolt, or strap, is engaged in a keeper. In
the preferred form of the invention the closure of the second lock
is accomplished by either of the above described motions as the
first lock is closed. The first lock prevents opening of the second
in one of the two motion directions, and the second prevents
opening of the first lock in the second of the two motion
directions. Thus, a tube once locked in place can be released only
by unlocking the first lock first whereupon the second lock can be
unlocked.
A variety of structures may be employed in practice of the
invention, and not all of its features are required to realize the
advantages of the invention.
In a broader sense, the invention can be thought of as a lock in
which the bolt can enter the keeper in either sidewise or endwise
direction, and is prevented from withdrawal by a lock in one
direction and a latch in the other. Further, the bolt may be
removed by withdrawal of at least one of the lock or latch.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is an isometric showing of a holder, in which the invention
is embodied, assembled with a tube, the holder clamp being shown as
it appears during locking and unlocking of the clamp;
FIG. 2 is a top view of a fragment of the holder of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the fragment of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4--4 of FIG. 3 except that
the end of the strap is shown to be inserted in the keeper and the
tube wall deformed as if held tightly in the clamp;
FIGS. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views taken on lines 5--5 and
6--6, respectively, of FIG. 2;
FIG. 7 is a fragmented, cross-sectional view looking down on the
strap retainer structure and strap on a plane just above the upper
edge of the strap and just below the double lock projection;
FIG. 8 is a fragmented, isometric view of another embodiment of the
invention, this one arranged for automatic application
assembly;
FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the lock of the embodiment of FIG.
8;
FIG. 10 is a view in rear elevation of the lock of the embodiment
of FIG. 8;
FIG. 11 is a fragmented, cross-sectional view taken on line 11--11
of FIG. 10;
FIGS. 12 and 13 are isometric views of two more embodiments of the
invention;
FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 are cross-sectional views taken on lines
14--14, 15--15 and 16--16, respectively, of FIG. 13; and
FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 17--17 of FIG.
16.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred embodiment of the invention includes most of its
features. The specific form of those features have been selected as
preferred for a nasal/oral tube application for the invention. The
application has been selected on the basis of its importance. In
other applications other specific forms might be considered
preferable.
In FIG. 1 the holder 10 is shown assembled on a length of tubing
12. The tube is made of transparent plastic. It is resilient and
relatively soft. It has a diameter which is within the range of
tube diameters commonly used in intubating medical patients, and it
is a commonly used type.
The holder 10 includes a patient attachment section 14 by which it
is fixed to the face of the patient adjacent his mouth or nostril.
Section 14 includes a central portion 16 from which four strap arms
extend to form an X-shape. The strap arms are designated 18, 19, 20
and 21 for identification. The lower side of section 14, the side
that is hidden from view in FIG. 1, is covered with a layer of
pressure sensitive adhesive material by which section 14 is made to
adhere to the patient's skin. A layer 22 of pressure adhesive tape
material overlies central portion 16 of section 14 and is bonded to
the pliant plastic foam material which forms the central portion 16
and the arms 18, 19, 20 and 21.
The upper portion 24 of the holder is the tube clamp section. It is
joined, in this case it is formed integrally, with a flange 26
which is interposed between the clamp section 24 and the patient
attachment section 14. The lower face of the flange 26 is bonded to
the upper face of the tape material layer 22. The adhesive that
joins the flange to layer 22 is strong. The margins of the flange
need not extend much beyond the area occupied by the lower end of
the clamp whereby the patient attachment portion is easily bent out
of the plane of the flange close to the clamp section.
The clamp section includes a base which is slotted at one side from
the end opposite the flange 26. The slot extends entirely through
from one side of the base to the other in a plane perpendicular to
the plane of the flange. The slot is almost as deep as the base is
high. Thus, the base can be considered as consisting of the
semi-circular segment 28 at one side of the slot 30 (FIGS. 2 and 3)
and the latch post 32. Alternatively, the latch post 32 and the
opposing structure 34 can be thought of as arms of a U-shaped
member connected by connecting section 36. One arm, arm 34 in this
case, is then integrally formed with the base 24.
A latch 40 is fixed to the latch post 32 such that it extends into
the slot 30. It need not actually be in the slot but could be
positioned beyond the slot itself. Its position lengthwise of the
slot is less important than that its normal, relaxed position is in
the plane of the slot. In this embodiment the latch is about
one-third or one-half as wide as the slot is deep and it is
positioned in the midregion of the slot's depth.
The post 32 is formed of resilient material. It can be bent away
from the base 24, and more particularly from "arm" 34 to widen the
slot 30. The latch 40 is formed integrally with post 32. Spaced
slots in the latch post define the latch as a cantilever the end of
which is formed as a triangular prism. It is the triangular part
that extends into the plane of the slot. Being formed of resilient
material, it can be cantilevered back out of that plane as it is
shown to be in FIG. 7 by the portion 42 of strap 44.
The strap can be considered to be a bolt which can be moved in the
direction of its length through the slot, to the left in FIGS. 4
and 7 of the drawing. The conformation 46 on the strap is a
triangular slot into which the latch 40 will spring if the strap 44
is moved leftward in FIG. 7 to bring the conformation 46 into
position opposite to a triangular portion of the latch.
Conformation 46 is formed by a sloping surface 48 and a near
perpendicular surface 50. It will be apparent that the strap can be
moved to the left in FIG. 7. The latch will be cammed back by the
sloping surface 46 and 52 of the next conformation. However, once
the strap has been inserted to a degree that permits entry of the
latch into a notch of the strap, the strap is locked against
withdrawal by rightward movement.
These two conformations, the triangular projection of the latch and
the triangular notch of the strap, constitute the first lock in
this embodiment. The position of the conformations can be reversed
and their shape can be other than triangular, and other variations
are possible. However, it is a feature that the two conformations
can be interlocked either by movement of the strap through the slot
from one side toward the other or by matching the conformations by
movement of the strap while positioned above the latch and then
moving the strap down into the slot until the conformations
interlock or mesh.
Such downward motion is impeded by a projection which extends into
the slot above the latch from one or the other side of the slot. It
is preferred that the projection extend from arm 34 opposite the
latch post arm 32. It is numbered 54 in the drawings. The upper
surface 56 slopes downwardly into the slot but the lower surface is
perpendicular to the plane of the slot. The projection is
positioned above the latch 40. It does not interfere with insertion
of the end of the strap into the slot or with movement of the strap
through the slot in the direction of the length of the strap.
However, the projection does interfere with movement of the strap
vertically in and out of the slot from and to the open end of the
slot. Motion of the strap into the slot past the projection is
possible because of the sloping upper surface and the resilience of
the latch post. The side of the strap being forced down against the
sloping surface, the strap will be cammed against the latch post.
The post will be forced away from the projection until the strap
can slide down past the projection. If a strap notch is aligned
with the latch the strap continues down. If not aligned the strap
is pushed through the slot until there is alignment.
Removal of the strap upwardly in the slot past the projection is
another matter. The projection's lower face is perpendicular. The
strap is locked in place by the lower face as a second lock. It can
be removed only by widening the slot, in this embodiment by bending
the latch post. That can be done by pulling the post with one
finger while lifting the strap with another or by forcing the end
of the strap against the post and upwardly simultaneously to bend
the post and force the strap clear of the latch and projection.
In the preferred embodiment the semi-circular part 28 of the base
is only approximately semi-circular. The other end of the strap 44
is fixed to the part 28 at the side opposite the U-shaped strap
keeper. It must be, and is, flexible and it exhibits some
resilience. In the preferred embodiment it is molded integrally
with the remainder of the tube clamp section and along with latch
post 24 forms a part of that section. In the preferred embodiment
the strap is molded such that it occupies substantially the
position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawing. The end extends
away from the base generally parallel at first with the plane of
the slot, and then it curves inwardly toward the plane of the slot.
As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the strap is relatively wide and the
triangularly shaped conformation 46 is repeated at spaced points
along substantially all of its length. It lies in a plane that is
parallel with the plane of the base 26. Those conformations extend
entirely across the width of the strap and are parallel to the side
walls of the slot and to the inner surface 60 of the semi-circular
base 28.
Surface 60 extends lengthwise over the length of the base. As best
shown in FIG. 1, the patient attachment section 14 and the flange
26 are cut away from the region which is faced by surface 60. While
the end of the strap 44 extends into that region, the way is clear
to move a section along the length of a tube between arms 18 and 19
past the end of the strap 44 and against surface 60. To clamp it in
place the free end of strap 44 is wrapped around to the region of
the latch post 32. The end of the strap may be inserted into the
slot 30 below projection 54 and then pushed through the slot,
ratcheting the latch until the strap embraces the tube 12 tightly
enough to cause deformation of the tube wall by the several small
projections 62 which extend from surface 60. The deformation is
depicted in FIG. 4. In that figure the strap is not drawn into
tight embrace around the tube 12 but the normally circular tube
wall is shown to be deformed by the projections on wall 60 as it
would be if the strap was tight. Additional projections 64 are
formed on the side of the strap toward the tube and they, too,
cause a slight deformation of the tube wall when the strap is drawn
tight.
It is not necessary to "thread" the end of the strap into the slot
30 from the side. It is more convenient to lift the end of the
strap around the tube and over the slot. The edge of the strap is
easily directed into the slot as it is shown to be in FIG. 1.
Pressing down gently but firmly at the side of the strap beyond the
latch post forces the strap to cam the post away from projection 54
and down to the latch. Matching the latch and a groove of the strap
is easily accomplished with a minimum of finger manipulation. When
the conformations are aligned the strap is forced down past the
projection 54. FIG. 4 represents the condition at that point in the
process. The strap is locked in the strap retainer so that it
cannot be withdrawn from the side or the end of slot 30. However,
the strap can be forced farther through the slot by ratcheting past
the latch 40 until the strap is tight against the tube 12 and the
tube wall is deformed by both sets, 62 and 64, of projection.
The holder can be attached to the patient before or after assembly
of the tube with the clamp and clamping can be completed at any
point in the process.
When the clamp is to be opened, either for removal or adJustment of
degree of tube insertion, the end of the strap 44 is lifted up to
separate the latch and strap conformations, as shown in FIG. 1. To
do that the slot must be opened to permit the strap to slide
between the projection 54 and post 32. Fingernail pressure on the
post, or applying outward and upward force on the end of the strap,
will provide the required slot opening.
While the double locking arrangement seems complex in the abstract,
it is convenient to use, and it can be accomplished in a relatively
simple, easily manufactured, reliable structure.
A form intended for installation by a robotic device is illustrated
in FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11. In this case the clamping device, or
lock, 100 has no flange corresponding to flange 26 of the first
described embodiment. The base, or keeper, 102 is formed by a latch
post 104, and an opposing, locking post 106. A connecting web 122
holds them in spaced relation. The outer side of the post 106 is
channel-shaped. The channel side walls have the form of ribs 108
and 110. At this inner side 114, the locking post includes an
integrally formed lock 118. The lock is a projection which extends
toward the inner surface 116 of the latch post 104. The upper face
120 of the lock slopes downwardly as best shown in FIG. 10, into
the space between the two posts toward the connecting web 122 that
joins the two posts and, together with them, forms the U-shaped
base 102.
The upper face is sloped downwardly to facilitate the sidewise
insertion of a bolt which, in this case, is shown as a strap 126,
into the space between the posts. The lock extends across the space
sufficiently far so that the distance between the lock 118 and
inner face 116 of the post 104 is less than the width of the strap
126. The strap can be inserted only if the separation between the
lock and the wall 116 is increased. In this embodiment, the entire
structure is formed of a material that is resilient. It is
deformable and exhibits renitance to return to original shape. In
this case the arms 104 and 106, the web 122, and the stop 118 all
yield when the strap is forced past the stop into the space between
the arms. The several parts of the base 102 yield because the strap
functions as a cam follower and the sloping face of the stop
functions as a cam. The lower face of the stop is shaped so that it
will not serve as a cam. In this case the lower face 128 is flat
and perpendicular to walls 114 and 116.
The side entry feature is particularly useful when using automatic
machinery for assembling the clamp on an application structure. It
is far less complicated to slide the strap into the base sideways
than to thread the end of the strap into a slot. The former can be
accomplished without changing the point at which the mechanism
grasps the strap. This particular design is arranged for clamping a
flow tube to a short stanchion using a manipulator robot.
As in the embodiment first described, this one includes a latch
which engages conformations on a strap. The conformations in this
case have saw-tooth form. They serve as cams to cam the latch
member 130 back toward face 116 of post 104. The latch member is
integrally formed with the base. It comprises a latch dog 132 at
the end of a resilient arm 134. The arm biases the dog toward wall
114 of the base so that it will spring in back of each tooth if the
strap 126 is pulled through the base slot. To remove the clamp, the
arms 104 and 106 are simply forced apart until the stop 118 clears
wall 116 enough to permit the strap to pass sideways between
them.
The lateral extensions 108 and 144 serve two purposes. The
attachment robot holds the clamp by holding one of the extensions.
In this case they are ribbed or channel-shaped to fit into the
assembly tool holder. If the clamp is to be removed, the extension
serves as a handle or lever for drawing arm 104 away from arm 106
until the strap can be freed.
The version 150 of the invention that is shown in FIG. 12 has its
strap or bolt 152 integrally formed with the base or keeper 154.
Otherwise, it is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 8.
The lock 160 of FIG. 13 is designed to serve as an inexpensive
"tie" that can be used over and over. The strap 162 is formed with
a ridge 164 at each edge. Between those ridges the strap is formed
with conformations at both sides which are engageable by the latch
structures of the base or keeper 166. That the latch engaging
conformations are formed on both sides is best shown in FIG. 17.
For identification, one conformation is numbered 168 and another,
on the opposite side, is numbered 170.
The keeper is generally U-shaped as best shown in FIG. 13. The arms
of the U are numbered 172 and 174, respectively. The bottom of the
U is numbered 176. There is a latch dog and a stop associated with
each of arms 172 and 174. The latch dogs are best seen in FIGS. 15
where the latch associated with arm 172 is numbered 178. The other
is numbered 180. The stops are best seen in FIG. 13. The stop 182
is formed integrally with arm 172. Stop 184 is formed integrally
with arm 174.
The separation of the stops 182 and 184 is less than the width of
the strap. When the strap is inserted edgewise between the arms 172
and 174 and forced between them, the arms are cammed apart to
permit entry. In this design the spacing between the two latch
dogs, in relaxed condition, is substantially the same as the
spacing between the two locks. The latch dogs are separated when
the locks are separated.
The latch dogs are mounted at the end of a resilient arm numbered
186 in the case of latch 178, and 188 in the case of latch 180. As
in the case of the other designs, the keeper and the strap are
resilient.
Although I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of
my invention, I am fully aware that many modifications thereof are
possible. My invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except
insofar as is necessitated by the prior art.
* * * * *